The newspaper "Al-Jomhouria" reported that French President Emmanuel Macron initiated several proposals, asking Hariri to study and discuss them in Beirut. These include increasing the number of ministers from 18 to 20 and that France nominates the ministers of energy and telecommunications.
The newspaper noted that during his meeting with designated Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Macron affirmed the continuation of the French initiative with the same momentum and expressed readiness to secure international support for him, as well as to communicate and mediate with Saudi Arabia for his backing. The same sources indicated that Macron asked Hariri about the twenty-member government and the obstacles to adopting it, to which Hariri responded that he is insistent on an 18-member government with no return from that stance, as it reflects a non-ambiguous rescue government.
He also emphasized his insistence on including non-partisan specialist ministers in the government, but he faces the insistence of Aoun and Bassil on naming their partisan ministers and obtaining a blocking third. It is noteworthy that they are demanding a blocking third in both the 18-member and 20-member governments, which means 6 ministers in both governments, indicating that increasing the number of ministers will not resolve the issue.
"Al-Jomhouria" learned that both Aoun and Bassil transmitted a non-negotiable message to Hariri through mediators, stating: no government except for the twenty-member one, and no government without a 'guaranteeing third.' The sources added, "We will wait for Hariri and what he will bring with him in terms of discussable solutions, otherwise there will be no government on the 14th or the 18th or any other dates.” They noted that “Hariri’s problem is not just internal; the relationship with Saudi Arabia is a crucial factor for him, as he has not yet received any approval from them regarding what he is doing, while everyone acknowledges that the government 'cannot be formed' without Saudi consent."
The sources added that the French proposal to appoint two ministers is open to discussion in order to reach a solution; however, it is unlikely that the President would accept it, nor would major political parties in Lebanon, as it would set a precedent for an international entity to have a share in the government, which could open the door for other countries in the future to demand to nominate ministers.
They also affirmed that matters are still at an impasse, especially since Hariri and his allies (most notably Speaker Nabih Berri) are not open to discussions on a twenty-member government or a blocking third, fearing that the situation in Lebanon could evolve into a static state that decision-makers might get accustomed to, while the Lebanese have started to detach from reality due to the intensifying crisis they face.
